About the Project
The Hartzell Memorial stands as one of Pittsburgh’s few monuments dedicated to a woman, honoring Annie Hartzell, a founder of the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society. Placed in the park in 1909 through her bequest of $18,000, the memorial initially functioned as a working fountain, featuring a large trough for horses, a drinking fountain for people, a birdbath on top, and small basins for dogs and squirrels.
Over the years, the memorial was relocated multiple times—first to Market Square in 1973, where it was incorporated into a circular pool, and later to a plaza on Federal Street in 1990. However, it was never reconnected as a functioning fountain, and its condition deteriorated over time. Recognizing its historical significance, the 2002 Allegheny Commons Master Plan called for its return to its original location as a monument rather than a fountain.
In 2020, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Allegheny Commons Initiative, and Northside Leadership Conference launched a campaign to restore the memorial and return it to its rightful home. Complementing the broader restoration of the North Promenade, the project aimed to clean and repair the structure, replace missing granite and bronze elements, and install necessary drainage to protect the basins. Thanks to successful fundraising efforts, the restoration was completed in 2022, preserving this cherished piece of history for future generations.
